Green Talk

Hey, Mr. Green is a cumulative assortment of green every day questions and answers posed to Bob Schildgen (aka “Mr Green”) for his column in the Sierra Magazine. The column was started in 2005 to provide useful answers to question posed by their confused or curious readers who wished to protect the environment in their daily lives.

When I received the book, I thought the questions would be based upon in depth, tree-hugging, environmental concerns given my perception of what Sierra Club is all about. I was pleasantly surprised since the topics were practical and right-on with everyone’s concerns. It was divided into five sections: “At Home” ( domestic details,) “Food for Thought” (eating and drinking better while spending less,) “Out and About” (fueling up and the great outdoors,) “The three Rs ( you know what this means, ) and “The Big Picture” (environmental politics, religion, and other interesting meal time topics.)

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Tired of your old bathroom decor? Perhaps the colors no longer go in your new place? I can’t even count how many time I have dragged my once fashionable magenta tissue holder around from house to house. I have no idea what to do with this tissue holder. It no longer goes in my yellow and green house, but I can’t throw it out. Too much eco-guilt.

Design Ideas has answered this very question with EcoGen Collection, its new line of compostable bath accessories. Tired of the look? Just bury it in the soil or in your compost pile, and it will decompose in less than 18 months!

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My Broccoli seedlings, which were spindly and sickly looking were replanted in Organic Mechanic Potting Soil a couple of weeks ago. They now look like they were given a vitamin shot since they are standing strong and tall with several leaves.

Organic Mechanics is no ordinary potting soil. My broccoli obviously knows this. It is comprised of all organic matter including worm poop and compost that is locally harvested. What make this product so special? Compost and worm castings help create healthy soil. See the Company’s detailed explanation as to the benefits of compost and worm castings.

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Green Talk turned one in the beginning of April and I thought it would be appropriate for Earth Day to give you a summary of my posts for the year:

The Most Read Posts:

Get Paid to Do Something Good For the Earth (Selling your hand held electronic through Second Rotation rather than throw them in a dump.)

Is Your Dryer Vent Giving You a Cold?

Organic Vodka, Starting From Square One

Can You Save the Earth By Simply Wiping? (Using recycled toilet paper)

Ten Green Tips for A Red Hot Valentine’s Day.

Can you Help the Earth by Writing a Check? (Recycled checks)

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Photo by permission of World Resource Institute of their new green office space.

You recycle, turn off your lights, and even watch what you consume, but have you considered the environmental impact of your home office or business? Here are some ideas, as Earth Day is quickly approaching, how to make green by being green in your work environment:

1. GreenPrint helps reduce printing of extraneous pages. (You know those last pages that you really don’t need?) Reduce ink use and paper use. . Licensing is a one-time fee. Many large corporations and schools are using this service. According to the Company, numerous small businesses, local governments and school are using the program. In addition, they have made inroads into UK, Europe, Australia and Japan.

Free to homeowners.

2. Consider widening your margins, and print on both sides of the paper to reduce the amount of paper used. For other paper reduction advice, see “Information on Recycling Paper” furnished by the WasteCap of Massachusetts.

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Last year, I used corn gluten to hopefully dent the of invasion of crabgrass in my lawn. I knew based on my conversations with Professor Christians, the inventor of corn gluten as an herbicide that it would take three years to rid my lawn of the ugly looking “wanna be” grass. After speaking to the Professor, I became a corn gluten believer and I was ready to take the corn gluten plunge. I was not a pesticide type of gal.

Professor Christian gave me detailed instructions how to properly use the corn gluten as delineated in my article, “Corn Gluten: Can Animal Feed K’O Crabgrass?.” Did I follow them? Well, not really. The first rule I broke was when to apply it, which is when the forsythia is blooming. Due to spring break, I ended applying the corn gluten after the forsythia was in full bloom. Corn gluten has a lot of nitrogen in it so my lawn at least benefited from it. The weeds were sending me thank you notes too since corn gluten does not kill perennial weeds.

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Photo courtesy of Gaiam

After you read the title of this Article, what was your first thoughts? Ah, Anna has written another one of her lurid sexual green posts. What could she think of that could top her “10 Green Tips to Have a Red Hot Valentines’ Day?” Well, sorry to disappoint you, but this article is about how to choose organic sheets. But cheer-up, after I have convinced you to buy those luscious organic sheets, perhaps you might want to find out why they are so special? So, why organic sheets?

Ever since I learned what type of chemicals could be lurking in my cotton sheets, I have not been able to buy conventional sheets. Why would I want to sleep with such bed fellows as chlorine used to bleach the cotton, formaldehyde to keep it from wrinkling or caustic dyes for colors? Then, you also have to worry about the amount of pesticides used in growing conventional cotton? “To combat the weeds and pests, cotton farmers use huge amounts of agrochemicals: up to 25 per cent of the world’s total annual production of pesticides and 10 per cent of all herbicides produced. In some countries, the crop is sprayed 30 or 40 times a season.” ¹

I alternate the sheets I use so there is less wear and tear on them. I even make a conscious effort to not over stuff the washing machine. These sheets have to last.

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How many of us catch lunch or dinner when we can? Are you driving up to the drive-in window more than you like to due to a hectic job, children with multiple activities or caring for family members? Does the person at the other end of the microphone recognize your voice?

I find myself in this situation many times during the week. I know. Eating at fast food places is not the greenest or healthiest places to eat. Sometimes, it is just unavoidable. How can you possibly interject a little green into a fast food situation? Well, if there is a hamburger, there is a way.

Slowly over the years I started saving parts of the dinner or lunch packages since I realize how much I was contributing to the landfills. First, I started collecting straws. I would use them to mark where I planted my bulbs so I could figure out which ones did not grow. (See my picture of the straws in my beds.) My neighbor remarked the other day that my plants seemed to be sprouting early. I chuckled and told her that those were straws marking my plant bulbs.

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Green Talk has been nominated by me as a blog making a difference to help people live a greener lifestyle. As many of you know, green building is my passion. For two years, I ate, slept, and talked about building products as I built my house. Who better to report about products than someone who used them and understands them?

I admit it. It is shameless promotion, but I do believe this little blog has made a difference from the comments of my readers, the companies that have sent me their products to review, to simply my green blogger friends who have encouraged me, listened to my whining, and have been invaluable to helping me grow this blog.

Why the contest? What are the categories? What is this all about? The press release below sums up the who/what/where and why that we learned in school:

” The fate of the planet hangs in the balance. So one of the world’s most organic home builders is sending out a clarion call to action. Vote for the best of healthy, sustainable products for the home and the most useful tips and ideas for green living. Cast your ballot for countertops made from things like paper and glassware, or home insulation made from the blue jeans you wear. The GREEN LOG Home and Lifestyle Awards have arrived just in time to drive home the message: the time to think green, know green and go green is now!

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Can man survive? Great free giveaway. See details below.

The Ovum Factor is a new novel by author, businessman, and publisher, Marvin L. Zimmerman, in which he depicts the inevitable consequences if we do not change to halt our destructive ways towards the Planet. The back cover reveals the following plot:

“Destruction of Earth’s ecology threatens the survival of humanity. With time ticking away, a clandestine think tank of leading scientists and world leaders has identified our last hope-the controversial research of the Noble Prize-winning professor aimed at unleashing the power of a unique molecule that can alter the course of human history.

When David Rose, a young investment banker from New York, is assigned to evaluate the professor’s research, he soon becomes swept up in a whirlwind of international espionage, assignation, and sabotage. David finds himself on a journey that takes him to the unexplored depths of the Amazon in order to fulfill two ancient prophecies for saving mankind and at the same time to realize his own destiny….”

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